Page 94 - INDONESIAN ISLAMIC CULTURE IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

In the process of becoming an empire, the Riau-Lingga archipelago, Batam Indische Compagnie). During the time of there, with the support of Muslim traders,
it is important to stress that Aceh is described in the Sejarah Melayu Johor and Aceh the political conditions he was recognized as the king of Perak.
produced commodities it could sell in as a safe and very friendly area and in the archipelago were characterized Around 1528, Perak proclaimed itself a
international markets. Areas conquered eventually it became the center of a by the presence of two western powers, kingdom, just like Johor, as the direct
by Ali Mughayat Shah, especially Pidie, new kingdom the Sultan had created the Portuguese in Malacca and the successor of Malacca.
Pasai, and Daya, were famous for their with the full support of the “orang laut” Netherlands in Batavia. This had
pepper and spices products. Therefore, (lit. sea people), a group of Malay important repercussions for the political Perak was experienced a vital
the conquest of these areas turned out communities that had settled on the developments of these kingdoms, as development in the Malay world.
to be a strategic step in the development sea. However, Sultan Mahmud found they were scattered over various regions Located about eighty kilometers from
of the kingdom and not only because of himself again under Portuguese attack of the archipelago. However, regardless the estuary of the Perak River, the
the commercial relations they had with in 1526 and he relocated to the center of the clear influence of these western kingdom was renowned for its production
international traders who visited the of his new kingdom to Kampar on the powers, which will be discussed later, it is of tin, that made it very attractive to
kingdom. It also controlled regions that east coast of Sumatra. After his death, important to explain here that the alliance foreign merchants. During the reign
were politically significant to the ruler’s he was replaced by his son, Sultan the rulers of Johor had struck with the of the second king, Sultan Mansur
consolidating efforts, which had mainly Alauddin Ri’ayat Shah, who resumed VOC seemed to have been a determining Shah (1549-1577), Perak was visited
taken place during the reign of the later his efforts to build up the kingdom. factor in the development and progress by European and Indian traders who
kings of Aceh, as they successfully gave Between 1530 and 1536, he finally of the kingdom. wanted to make investment in tin mining.
the kingdom its dominant political and succeeded in establishing his power Perak and Brunei were two other By then, Perak had undergone rapid
economic position in the western region in the upstream regions of the Johor kingdoms in the western part of change. The number of inhabitants of
of the archipelago. River and he is remembered as the first Nusantara that were established the main city of Perak had reached more
king of the Malaccan dynasty of the than five thousand people. Moreover,
Alongside Aceh, various other Islamic following the fall of Malacca. Especially as one the successors of Malacca,
kingdoms had been established that Sultanate of Johor. Perak can be said to have been, like the rulers of Perak were also noted for
also participated in maritime trade Although Johor did not progress in the Johor, a response of the Malay people to their contribution to the development of
after the fall of Malacca. One of the same way as Aceh, in many respects their defeat in Malacca. The Keingdom Malaccan-Malay culture and they are
most important and frequently in rivalry it also developed into a leading Islamic of Perak was established an empire also reported to have introduced the
with Aceh was Johor in the southern kingdom. This development took place in the early 15 century. The first king, royal governmental system that was
th
Malay Peninsula. The Johor rulers mainly after it had gained access Muzaffar Shah, was the son of Sultan similar to the one that had been in force
were the direct heirs of the Malacca to international maritime trade. It is Mahmud Shah, the last ruler of Malacca. in Malacca.
dynasty. Sultan Mahmud, the last important to emphasize that Johor’s He was also a half-brother of Sultan
king of Malacca fled after to Johor his involvement in maritime trade was Alauddin Ri’ayat Shah, the first ruler of Brunei is located on the north coast of
kingdom had fallen into the Portuguese mainly the result of an alliance it had Johor. According to the Malay Annals, he Borneo and it had become an Islamic
hands. He selected to flee via Batam established with the Netherlands Trading abandoned Malacca to go to Siak and Kingdom upon the arrival of Muslim
or commonly called Bintan. Located in Company, the VOC (Vereenigde Oost- continued his journey to Kelang. From traders might also some members of

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